Author: NBA Basketball News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games

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Mavericks' governor Patrick Dumont wants medical data before approving return of Anthony Davis

Only good things happen when owners take a hands-on approach to roster decisions. Just ask Knicks and Kings fans.

Anthony Davis will miss his seventh straight game Wednesday night when Dallas hosts Phoenix, and his return date is up in the air as Dallas Mavericks governor Patrick Dumont has requested medical information that Davis is not at risk of aggravating the calf strain that has had him out, reports Tim MacMahon at ESPN.

[Davis] originally targeted his return for Saturday's road game against the Washington Wizards, but there was a disagreement between Mavs director of health and performance Johann Bilsborough and Davis' personal medical staff on whether that was prudent, sources said. Davis was held out after Dumont sided with Bilsborough, preferring to err on the side of caution, sources said.

One can understand Dumont's caution here. Players are often the worst judges of how fast they can return (especially from soft tissue injuries) — they are in the NBA in part because they believe they can overcome anything. While Davis has a personal medical staff, he pays them. The team is likely to be more cautious with players it has invested tens of millions of dollars in.

As noted by MacMahon, Dumont's decision against Washington likely was in part tied to his growing lack of trust in now-fired general manager Nico Harrison. Also in Dumont's mind is the fact that last season, when the Mavericks acquired Davis in the Luka Doncic trade, he was sidelined with an abdominal injury. Davis rushed back from that injury in the wake of all the criticism of the trade, only to aggravate it in his first game back, which kept him out for another six weeks.

That said, the idea of an owner becoming more hands-on in basketball decisions or medical decisions is concerning. Dumont needs to do a serious search, eventually hire a new GM with a long-term plan, then get out of his way.

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Steph Curry gets best of fellow alien Victor Wembanyama as Warriors beat Spurs

Steph Curry gets best of fellow alien Victor Wembanyama as Warriors beat Spurs originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN ANTONIO – We’re being duped and deceived more and more every day. 

The internet feels less real every time we take out our phones and wonder if what we’re mindlessly scrolling past is AI or the latest trend that will fade away and get lost in the shuffle. Deep down, we want to believe. The belief fuels us and makes us fools all at the same time.

Thousands of UFO sightings already have been recorded this year with 50 days still remaining in 2025. Thousands. They create stories and eye rolls. Fuel, and fools. Aliens are among us. 

Ask the 18,578 fans in the building to watch the Warriors and San Antonio Spurs for four quarters on Wednesday night and you yourself can become a believer, if you somehow aren’t already.

There were 21 players who ran up and down the court at Frost Bank Center in the Warriors’ 125-120 win, with two aliens taking center stage. A basketball fanatic and a baby who can barely open its eyes could point out which person was taken from a French hovercraft and dropped down on San Antonio to reign supreme on the basketball world. 

Squint hard enough and you can see it. Watch him for more than a decade like Steve Kerr has and you know it by now. Oh yeah, the second alien is the one whose head is at the waist of Alien No. 1, Victor Wembanyama, when he’s flying in the air at him, but the ball sails over his outstretched left arm and through the net without touching a single part of the rim from the right corner. 

“All it takes is that one shot, and in that third quarter I feel like he hit that 3-pointer that finally went down. And when that went down, the corner one, it was like, ‘Here we go,’ ” Al Horford said. “Then it was just … they were in trouble.” 

Steph Curry threw both his hands up as a thank you to the heavens. Maybe to the overlords who graced his right hand at birth, too. It was a gesture of finally. They, being the Spurs, were in trouble. 

“Thankfully, I made one,” Curry said. “Got a rhythm going and felt like I could make a couple more. It was a good second half.” 

Indeed. 

Curry scored 46 points one night after he and his Warriors teammates were embarrassed in Oklahoma City by the defending NBA champions in his first game back from an illness, scoring only 11 points against the Thunder’s machine-like defense. He admitted he still was battling a cold, which was clear when he spoke, hoping to play 24 hours later against the Spurs. 

“Looks like he’s almost fully healthy,” Gary Payton II said. “Almost fully healthy. He probably would have gotten 50 if he was fully healthy. I’ll take the 46. Just to see him in a good rhythm is encouraging for everybody.”

Getting one game back under his belt helped Curry. His congestion still is there, but his lungs felt way different. Night and day, like the product Steph and the Warriors displayed against Wembanyama and the rising Spurs. 

That three over Wembanyama actually was Curry’s second of the game, with his first being a circus shot from the left corner in the first quarter while trying to draw a foul on former Warriors teammate Harrison Barnes. The third quarter, however, is when flames started firing from his fingers. 

Even after missing his first 3-point attempt of the second half. 

Once he sneakily ran behind Wembanyama from the left side of the court and found his way to the right corner where Jimmy Butler found him in mid-air, it was game on. Curry in the third quarter alone scored 22 points, six fewer than the Spurs did as a team. In nine minutes. 

He made three 3-pointers in three different ways during his third-quarter flurry, banked two 2-pointers – first from the right side and then the left – and forced his way to nine free throws. Yes, he made all nine. 

Kerr jokingly used the word “routine” to describe Curry’s night in totality that also included five rebounds, five assists, five threes, two steals and 15 made free throws with just one miss. 

“I’ve seen this,” Kerr continued. “How many times has he scored 40 in his career?”

The answer: 73. 

“I’m kidding, obviously,” Kerr continued. “That was not routine. When you have the privilege with Steph for 11-plus years like I have, you get used to this. He’s the reason this whole thing has happened. He’s our Tim Duncan. He’s the sun in our solar system.” 

Starring alongside Curry were the two who round out a Big Three on the other side of 35 years old. Jimmy Butler was Batman’s Robin with 28 points, six rebounds, eight assists and three steals. Draymond Green was their enforcer, making one of his 10 shot attempts but still finishing as a game-high plus-15 as he made Wembanyama fight as hard as he could for 31 points, throwing him out of whack for a season-high eight turnovers – the second-most in the Spurs star’s career. 

It still all starts with Curry. It’s timeless. It’s art. It’s a Broadway show.

It’s an alien lifeform in a 6-foot-2 body that has outgrown his previous Baby-Faced Assassin nickname. 

“You always have a chance when he’s on the floor, especially when he’s making incredible shots like he was,” Butler said. “That’s what we need, that’s what he’s going to give us. He’s going to do what he does. It’s our job, everybody else, to do what we’re supposed to do. The role players are the ones that are really going to win, and I’m one of those as well. The star is going to do what he does.” 

Butler continued, sharing what he calls The Art of Getting Out The Way: “Give the ball to 30, and get out the way. The talent will create the disadvantage, and I think that’s what we focused on tonight. Give the ball to Steph, get out the way, and let Steph do what he’s been doing for so many years in this league and good things happen.” 

Aliens are among us. One is known as Wemby. The other is named Wardell. You might know him as Steph.

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Steph Curry recalls lonely ‘pep talk' before huge third quarter in Warriors' win

Steph Curry recalls lonely ‘pep talk' before huge third quarter in Warriors' win originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Lock in, Dub Nation.

That’s Steph Curry’s mantra, and the Warriors star put it to good use with a 46-point performance in Golden State’s 125-120 win over the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday at Frost Bank Center.

Curry scored 22 of those points in a red-hot third quarter — but things didn’t start out that way for the point guard. The 37-year-old shot 6 of 12 from the field and 1 of 6 from 3-point range in the first two quarters, but after he stayed out on the bench while the rest of the Warriors went in the locker room at halftime, everything changed.

“As a shooter, any time you’re missing short, you get in your head a little bit,” Curry told Bob Fitzgerald and Kelenna Azubuike about the moment on “Warriors Postgame Live” after the win. “That’s like the worst miss ever and I had about three or four of them, so I was just trying to talk to myself, you know, a little pep talk over there, get your mind right.

“But sometimes it’s nice to feel it in the arena versus in the locker room because you know you got to come back out here and do work.”

Curry’s halftime pep talk worked, and he came out firing in the second half. He scored 31 of his 46 total points across the final two frames on 7-of-13 shooting from the field, 4 of 10 from deep and a perfect 13 of 13 from the free-throw line.

That offensive explosion included a go-ahead 3-pointer in the third quarter that had Curry yelling, “Boom!” as he celebrated.

There’s no doubt the Warriors’ messaging in the locker room was exactly what the team needed to come back out and erase a 16-point deficit against the Spurs.

But sometimes, the best shooter in the world just needs to hear from himself first.

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What we learned as Kings' bad basketball continues in blowout home loss to Hawks

What we learned as Kings' bad basketball continues in blowout home loss to Hawks originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

BOX SCORE

SACRAMENTO — The Kings’ bad basketball continued in their final contest of a five-game homestand, falling to the Atlanta Hawks by a final score of 133-100 on Wednesday night at Golden 1 Center.

Boos poured into G1C throughout the game — and they weren’t for Atlanta.

Just one night ago, Kings coach Doug Christie called out the haters and critics of his team, vowing his team would turn things around and warned that “The Kings Show” was coming. A few hours later, the Kings lost 122-108 to the Denver Nuggets. This is after consecutive blowout losses to the Oklahoma City Thunder and Minnesota Timberwolves.

Christie said his passionate pregame comments weren’t targeted at a specific individual, but rather any fans, media members or players disrespecting his squad.

The boos, which have sprinkled in here and there at times during the Kings’ early NBA season, reached a new level of loudness Wednesday.

With so many questions regarding this team now and in the immediate future, at least one thing is crystal clear: Fans are fed up.

Here are the takeaways from another deflating loss:

Dennis struggles

Schroder’s start with Sacramento hasn’t gone as anyone anticipated, to say the least.

He entered Wednesday’s game in a shooting funk, making just one of his last 19 field-goal attempts over the past three games.

He had combined for five points in those contests. On Wednesday night, he appeared to have turned things around, scoring eight points on 3-of-4 shooting from the field in nine first-quarter minutes.

But, of course, one quarter doesn’t tell the whole story.

Schroder wound up adding just one more point after that first quarter, finishing with nine points on 3-of-8 shooting from the field and 2 of 3 from long range. He was a minus-20 in 26 minutes.

Hawks let it fly from 3

Atlanta entered Wednesday’s game shooting 34.5 percent from 3-point range, good for 20th in the league.

The Hawks knocked down six treys in the first quarter alone against the Kings, with four of their five starters sinking one apiece.

Atlanta finished the game with 17 3s, and shot 42.5 percent from long range against Sacramento’s defense, which continues to struggle.

That percentage could have been much higher, too, as Hawks players tried to take advantage of a snoozing Kings defense but just missed several wide-open shots.

It’s not the first time a team that’s not known for its 3-point shooting comes into G1C and lets it rain.

And if something doesn’t change for Sacramento, it likely won’t be the last.

Offense?!?!

Christie almost is offended if any media member asks him about Sacramento’s offense.

He has made it perfectly clear that the team is focused on its defense, and knows it must improve in that area if the Kings want to win games.

But with multiple starting lineup changes, mostly because of injuries and also due to personnel, the Kings’ offense has yet to find a consistent rhythm.

Still, it was the least of Christie’s concerns after Tuesday’s loss.

“Offense? Yeah, nobody’s talking about offense,” Christie told reporters postgame. “I mean, tonight was only 108 [points] but on most nights, we’re scoring enough points. It ain’t about the offense. Guys can score the ball. There’s a lot of people that can score the basketball.

“If we want to win, we need to focus on the defense, period. … I don’t want to hear about no offense.”

Well, the Kings are 24th in the league in offensive rating and 27th — or, fourth-worst — in defensive rating so far this season.

They scored 12 points in the second quarter against the Hawks on Wednesday.

Just three seasons ago, the Kings ran a historically great offense. Now, we’re here.

It might be time to worry about the offense.

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Clippers guard Bradley Beal out for season with hip fracture

Los Angeles Clippers guard Bradley Beal dribbles against the Phoenix Suns during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Guard Bradley Beal, who played in only six games for the Clippers because of multiple injuries, will miss the rest of the season after having surgery to repair a fractured hip. (Ross D. Franklin / Associated Press)

Clippers guard Bradley Beal is done for the season. He has a hip fracture and will undergo surgery, the team announced Wednesday.

The three-time All-Star, who is expected to make a full recovery in six to nine months, played in only six games this season, averaging 8.2 points and 1.7 assists. He signed an $11-million, two-year deal with the Clippers in July after the final two years of his contract were bought out by the Phoenix Suns.

The 32-year-old was listed as out for Wednesday night's game against the Denver Nuggets because of left hip soreness. Beal previously missed games because of a left knee injury and lower back soreness.

Beal's two seasons in Phoenix were riddled by injury as well. The 14-year veteran hasn't played at least 60 games in a season since 2020-21 when he was with the Washington Wizards.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Clippers' Bradley Beal to undergo hip surgery, will miss remainder of season

When Tyronn Lue announced pregame Monday that Bradley Beal was out vs. Atlanta, the Clippers coach was asked, "Is there a concern that Brad's injury might be beyond just this game?"

"Yes."

That answer raised red flags. Now comes news that Beal has a fractured hip that will require surgery and he will miss the remainder of this season. The timeline for his recovery is six to nine months, a story broken by Shams Charania of ESPN and since confirmed by other sources.

The injury occurred against Phoenix on Saturday when he attempted to take a charge, fell awkwardly on his hip and left the game not to return.

This comes as a real blow to the Clippers, who have stumbled to a 3-7 start to the season and are currently without Kawhi Leonard due to a sprained ankle. The Clippers were banking on Beal to step in and fill the scoring, playmaking role that Norman Powell did at a near All-Star level for them last season, but he has looked slow (a problem across the board for Los Angeles) and is averaging 8.7 points a game in the six games he got into, shooting just 37.5% from the floor.

"[Beal] is a starter for us. He's gonna play..." Lue had said just a week before. "We can't just move him to the side, he's a big part of what we're trying to do. We got to bring him along slow, we got to be smart about it, and we just can't rush the process."

Now Lue needs to come up with another plan. Expect a lot more Kris Dunn (which is good for the Clippers' defense) and Cam Christie with Beal now out.

Beal was signed for the taxpayer mid-level exception of $5.4 million this season, and he has a player option for $5.6 million next season.

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What we learned as Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler save Warriors in big win over Spurs

What we learned as Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler save Warriors in big win over Spurs originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

BOX SCORE

The Warriors on Wednesday night got their first look this season at the majestic force that is 7-foot-4 Victor Wembanyama and didn’t blink.

With Stephen Curry firing up his offense, scoring a game- and season-high 46 points, the Warriors quieted some of the noise around them with a 125-120 victory over Wembanyama and the Spurs at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio.

Coming on the second night of a back-to-back road set, this is Golden State’s most impressive win of the season.

Jimmy Butler III contributed 28 points and eight assists, while Moses Moody tossed in 19 to give Curry plenty of offensive aid.

Wembanyama scored 27 points and grabbed a game-high 14 rebounds but committed a game-high eight turnovers.

Here are three observations from a game that allowed the Warriors and Dub Nation at least a day to exhale:

Chef was cooking

Still recovering from a cold that forced him to miss three games, Curry found his rhythm after halftime and led the Warriors to their most productive quarter of the season.

Curry in the third quarter scored 22 points on 5-of-7 shooting from the field, including 3-of-5 from distance, along with 9-of-9 from the line. It was the 43rd time in his career that he scored at least 20 points in a quarter. 

Curry’s outburst provided most of the ammunition for Golden State, scoring 43 points in the quarter – it’s highest total for any quarter this season.

Curry’s 46 points came on 13-of-25 shooting from the field, including 5-of-16 from beyond the arc and 15-of-16 from the line. He was plus-3 over 34 minutes. He tied Michael Jordan for most 40-point games after turning 35 with 12. Only LeBron James (15) has more.

Lineup No. 6

Coach Steve Kerr indicated during his pregame news conference that “drastic” changes could be in store for rotations and maybe the starting lineup. He told no lies.

He turned to a first-time starting lineup: Curry and Moody at guard, Butler and rookie Will Richard and at forward, with Draymond Green at center. It’s Golden State’s sixth different starting lineup.

The most notable change was Jonathan Kuminga, the only Warrior to start the first 12 games, moving to the bench. He leads the team in minutes, rebounds and turnovers – committing at least four giveaways in four of the last seven games.

Starting Moody was a good call, as his offense was crucial. He scored 14 points on 5-of-7 shooting, including 4-of-6 from deep, in 13 first-half minutes. He finished with 19 and was plus-2 over 26 minutes.

Richard, however, made little impact. An early-season revelation, he was scoreless, without taking a shot, did not snag a rebound in 10 first-half minutes. He finished with three points, one rebound and one assist. He was plus-1 over 22 minutes.

Quiet bench comes alive

One of the strengths of the Warriors has been their bench production. With Moody leading the way, the reserves entered the game averaging 40.2 points per game, tied for fifth in the NBA.

For much of the evening, it appeared Golden State’s bench wouldn’t come anywhere near its average, as it managed only eight points in the first half.

The wakeup call came at halftime, as the bench rallied for 15 points to finish with 23. Still below its scoring average but that, along with solid defense and considerable grit, was enough to sufficiently support Curry’s magnificence.

Kuminga’s first tour with the bench crew this season did not go well. He watched from the bench as the Warriors posted a 43-28 advantage in the third quarter and spent the entire second half as a spectator. He finished with zero points, four rebounds and was minus-10 over 12 minutes.

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Watch Warriors star Steph Curry's fired-up celly after go-ahead triple vs. Spurs

Watch Warriors star Steph Curry's fired-up celly after go-ahead triple vs. Spurs originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

One night after struggling in his return from an illness, Warriors star Steph Curry is all the way back.

The 3-point King lived up to his name during the third quarter of Golden State’s game against San Antonio on Wednesday at Frost Bank Arena, draining a go-ahead triple that erased the Spurs’ 16-point lead.

The Warriors guard willed Golden State to a 74-73 lead — and a much-needed one at that, as his squad looks to bounce back from an ugly loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night and a recent skid that has them at 6-6 on the 2025-26 NBA season.

Curry was on fire in the third quarter, scoring 22 points with a trio of 3-pointers.

Now, the Warriors will look to hold onto that lead and avoid their fourth loss in five games.

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76ers health update: Joel Embiid day-to-day with knee issue, Paul George nearing return

Philadelphia is off to a solid 7-4 start, including another win over the Celtics on Tuesday night, with a top-10 offense in the league and Tyrese Maxey looking like an All-NBA player — all of that without Paul George and limited contributions from Joel Embiid, their two veteran stars.

We now have health updates on Embiid and George.

Joel Embiid

He was out Tuesday night due to right knee soreness, the second straight game he missed, which raised concerns. "He just reported a little soreness in his right knee. He's had some imaging on that this afternoon, and the doctors are here tonight to go over that with him," 76ers coach Nick Nurse said before Tuesday night's game.

That imaging found no structural damage, and the center will be day-to-day, reports Shams Charania of ESPN.

Embiid has played in six of the team's 11 games this season, averaging 19.7 points and 5.5 rebounds per game while playing less than 25 minutes a night. While he has seemed to move a little better each game, he is not playing like the peak Embiid. Knee issues limited Embiid to 19 games last season.

Paul George

The 76ers released an official update on George saying he was in the "final stage" of a return to play but doctors wanted him to strengthen his left quadricep following his surgery. That said, he could return to the court later this week or by next week.

The real question now for George and Embiid is whether they can fit into what is already working with Philadelphia without changing it. Can George play on the wing, do some secondary shot creation, but mostly knock down shots and play some solid defense. Tyrese Maxey has shown this season that he is the future of the franchise, along with V.J. Edgecombe and just returned Jared McCain. The 76ers can't move on so easily from Embiid's and George's $50+ million per season contracts, but they need them to recognize their roles and where this franchise is headed.

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Steph Curry grants young Warriors fan's wish, signs prosthetic leg before game

Steph Curry grants young Warriors fan's wish, signs prosthetic leg before game originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Steph Curry has autographed thousands of items over his illustrious 17-year NBA career with the Warriors. 

And the generous 37-year-old just added to the long list of memorabilia in a creative, heartwarming fashion.

Curry signed a young superfan’s prosthetic leg ahead of Golden State’s matchup with the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday at Frost Bank Center.

The fan, wearing a shirt and the aforementioned prosthetic leg depicting Curry’s iconic night-night celebration, said Curry was his “favorite player” and asked the superstar for a picture; the future Hall of Fame sharpshooter took care of the rest.

Curry is no stranger to kindly offering his signature.

He often is spotted autographing jerseys after jersey at games and events, and one could scroll online for hours to see the abundance of sports cards and signature Under Armour shoes the 11-time NBA All-Star has inked.

Curry even has given his signature in the form of a permanent tattoo — as requested, of course.

A four-time NBA champion with Golden State, Curry is one of the league’s most popular players of all time. 

So while Wednesday’s demonstration might appear to be unique, it truly is a reflection of Curry’s gravity and memory-making ability across basketball, even far from home, as seen on Wednesday in the Lone Star State.

Who knows what and where Curry will be asked to sign next?

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Fantasy Basketball Week 4 Injury Report: Joel Embiid sidelined again; updates on LeBron James, Paul George

While the 2025-26 NBA season still isn't officially one month old, it may feel like it is from an injury standpoint. Some stars have yet to appear in a game, while others have spent multiple games on the sideline. In the case of Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid, the team's measured approach to his return did not prevent another issue from popping up. Let's look at some injuries that will impact fantasy basketball for the remainder of Week 4 and the first few days of Week 5.

G Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Atlanta Hawks

Alexander-Walker, who stepped in for the injured Trae Young at point guard, has missed Atlanta's last two games with a back injury and is questionable for the team's November 12 game against Sacramento. Keaton Wallace (one percent rostered, Yahoo!) replaced him in the starting lineup, totaling 19 points, six rebounds, eight assists, one steal and five three-pointers in wins over the Lakers and Clippers.

However, Wallace played 12 fewer minutes against the Clippers than he did against the Lakers, with Jalen Johnson's return after a one-game absence and Vit Krejčí (two percent) going bonkers from beyond the arc impacting Keaton's playing time. Wallace isn't a must-stream player, even if Alexander-Walker cannot return on Wednesday.

G Cam Thomas, Brooklyn Nets

On November 7, the Nets announced that Thomas would be re-evaluated in 3-4 weeks after suffering a strained left hamstring. That's the same hamstring he injured back in January and February, with the latter instance ending his 2024-25 campaign. With that in mind, the Nets will likely exercise caution in bringing Thomas back into the fold.

In the three games Brooklyn has played since, rookie Egor Dëmin (seven percent) has moved into the starting lineup, averaging 11.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 0.7 steals and 2.7 three-pointers in 25.3 minutes while shooting 48 percent from the field and 47.1 percent from three. According to Basketball Monster, Dëmin has been a top-150 player over the past week. That isn't "great" fantasy value, but with the Nets clearly rebuilding, this may entice some deep-league managers to roll the dice on the rookie guard.

Also, Drake Powell (less than one percent) has entered the rotation in Thomas's absence, averaging 23.7 minutes over the last three games. Dëmin would be the rookie to prioritize if you're mining the Nets roster for value, whether now or for the "silly season," but keep an eye on Powell, especially if the defensive ability results in solid steals numbers.

G Josh Giddey, Chicago Bulls

Giddey sprained his right ankle during Chicago's November 8 loss to the Cavaliers, and he missed Monday's loss to the Spurs as a result. He's considered questionable for Wednesday's matchup with the Pistons, and Giddey's availability impacts multiple players. Kevin Huerter (17 percent), who has been a top-75 player in nine-cat formats, moved into the starting lineup on Monday, finishing with 23 points, five rebounds, five assists, one block and four three-pointers in 33 minutes. Ayo Dosunmu (20 percent) played 33 minutes off the bench, accounting for 20 points, two rebounds, five assists, two steals, one block and three three-pointers.

However, Huerter and Dosunmu aren't the only Bulls guards who receive a boost to their fantasy value when Giddey (and Coby White) aren't available. Tre Jones (33 percent), who has filled in admirably for White, is close to a top-50 player in nine-cat formats. Even if Giddey can play on Wednesday, he's worth holding onto until White returns. As for Huerter and Dosunmu, they will both retain value in deeper leagues.

Miami Heat v Denver Nuggets
Fantasy Basketball Stock Up Stock Down: Jaime Jaquez Jr. breaking out
Jaime Jaquez Jr. is making massive strides after a disappointing sophomore campaign.

G Darius Garland, Cleveland Cavaliers

Garland injured his left big toe in Monday's overtime loss to the Heat, returning briefly during the third quarter but exiting for good shortly thereafter. This is the same toe he injured late last season, aggravating it in the first round of the playoffs and ultimately requiring surgery during the offseason. The good news is that Cleveland has cited "left toe injury management" as the reason for Garland's absence on Wednesday, when the Cavaliers face the Heat again. However, while he may be day-to-day, toe injuries can be tricky.

From a minutes standpoint, Sam Merrill (13 percent) and Jaylon Tyson (15 percent) were the biggest beneficiaries on Monday. Unfortunately, Tyson has entered the league's concussion protocol and will miss Wednesday's game at a minimum, leaving it to Merrill to pick up the slack. De'Andre Hunter (32 percent) isn't the best category-league option, but he's healthy and starting.

Also of note for Wednesday is that Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley are out for rest reasons. Due to those absences, Lonzo Ball (nine percent), Dean Wade (one percent) and Craig Porter Jr. (less than one percent) can be thrown into the mix as potential streamers, but the former remains on a minutes restriction.

F/C Anthony Davis and C Dereck Lively II, Dallas Mavericks

Davis (calf) and Lively (knee) have both been out for extended periods, with the former last playing on October 29 and the latter last doing so on October 26. Both players are considered questionable for Wednesday's game against the Suns. However, Davis has been listed as questionable ahead of the last few games, only to be ruled out. Daniel Gafford (17 percent) is the first player to consider, even though his minutes have been limited due to ankle injuries.

Superior options, especially for those desiring streamers who will play more minutes, have been Max Christie (15 percent) and Naji Marshall (12 percent). Both are providing solid value in eight- and nine-cat formats. Of the two, Christie may offer a slightly higher long-term upside, as he's replaced the struggling Klay Thompson in the starting lineup. His place within the rotation should be safe when Davis and Lively return, while Marshall's playing time may take a hit.

G/F Ausar Thompson, F Tobias Harris and C Isaiah Stewart, Detroit Pistons

With Cade Cunningham listed as questionable due to a hip contusion, the Pistons could be without four key contributors for Wednesday's game against Chicago. Of the three listed here, however, Harris may be the furthest from a return. While making progress according to head coach J.B. Bickerstaff, he still does not have a timeline for returning from his sprained right ankle. Thompson (ankle) is out with a sprained ankle, while Stewart is doubtful with a sprained ankle.

Stewart's absence led to Ron Holland (five percent) and Javonte Green (one percent) starting the last two games, with the latter filling the void in Monday's win over the Wizards. The only way either will be worth the risk is if the Pistons are forced to play without Cunningham. Duncan Robinson (eight percent) is more of a specialist than someone who can provide value across multiple categories, while Daniss Jenkins (one percent) will be worth a look if Cunningham sits.

G Bradley Beal and F Kawhi Leonard, LA Clippers

Leonard has missed the Clippers' last four games with a sprained ankle and will also not play on Wednesday against the Nuggets. As for Beal, a fracture in his hip will keep him out for the rest of the season. Kris Dunn (four percent) entered the starting lineup at the time of Leonard's injury, but he has only been a top-200 player over the past week.

With Beal out, John Collins (84 percent) started Monday's loss to the Hawks, and he struggled, shooting 3-of-11 from the field and finishing with nine points, seven rebounds, one steal, one block and one three-pointer in 31 minutes. With Collins rostered in most leagues and Dunn not doing enough on offense to merit being streamed, there really isn't anywhere to turn while Leonard sits and Beal is done for the year.

F LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers

James (sciatica) may be getting closer to making his first appearance of the season. As of Tuesday, he was on track to practice with the Lakers' G League affiliate while the Lakers are on their current road trip. Wednesday's game against the Thunder is the first of three games they'll play during the rest of Week 4, and all are on the road.

LeBron won't be of any service to fantasy managers this week, but his absence has opened up additional minutes for Marcus Smart (11 percent) and Jake LaRavia (19 percent). The former has been the fifth starter, with the latter heading to the bench after Austin Reaves returned from a groin injury that sidelined him for three games. Smart and LaRavia are worth a look in deep leagues, at least until LeBron is available to play.

G Jordan Poole, New Orleans Pelicans

Poole was diagnosed with a strained left quad on November 7 and is due to be re-evaluated over the weekend, based on the 7-10 day timeline provided by the team. Jeremiah Fears (18 percent) had already replaced Poole in the starting lineup, and the rookie will be worth holding onto, especially for those who can compensate for the efficiency issues that can plague rookie guards.

Saddiq Bey (eight percent) and Jose Alvarado (two percent) have provided decent fantasy value recently, with the former starting for the still-injured Zion Williamson (hamstring). Based on the timeline provided after his injury, Zion should be re-evaluated soon. Is Bey worth a look in deep leagues? That depends on how desperate the fantasy manager may be for frontcourt production, especially with Bey not offering much in the way of defensive stats.

C Joel Embiid and F Paul George, Philadelphia 76ers

Having undergone a procedure on his left knee during the offseason, Embiid's minutes were being managed even before his most recent injury. Unfortunately, he's back on the sideline, but it's due to a sore right knee. However, no structural damage was found in the team's examinations of the knee, and Embiid will be considered day-to-day moving forward. Philadelphia only plays once more this week, which may limit Andre Drummond's (14 percent) streaming appeal in the eyes of some.

As for George, he'll be re-evaluated toward the end of the week as he attempts to return from offseason knee surgery. ESPN's Shams Charania reported late Tuesday that the doctors want George's left quad to get stronger before clearing him to play. Trendon Watford (15 percent) has been the most recent starter at power forward, providing 10th-round per-game value in eight- and nine-cat formats over the past week.

G Jalen Green, Phoenix Suns

Green, who made his season debut on November 6 after suffering a strained right hamstring during the offseason, suffered another strain during the Suns' November 8 win over the Clippers. He will be re-evaluated in 4-6 weeks, so there's no guarantee that Green will be back in games before late December.

Given the amount of time that Green missed due to the first injury, fantasy managers should have a clear understanding of who to target. Royce O'Neale (27 percent) returned to the starting lineup on Monday, playing 23 minutes in a blowout of the Pelicans. That game was also a showcase for Grayson Allen (41 percent), who dropped a career-high 42 points and hit a franchise-record 10 three-pointers. Both players are worth rostering while Green sits, with Allen likely being more valuable to fantasy managers once the Suns return to full strength.

G/F Bilal Coulibaly, Washington Wizards

After missing the first four games due to offseason thumb surgery, Coulibaly played three full games before injuring his calf during a November 5 loss to the Celtics. Wednesday's game against the Rockets will be the fourth he has missed, and the third-year wing could be out even longer than that. Rookie Tre Johnson (nine percent) has moved into the starting lineup, but he hasn't been a top-200 player over the last week. Managers willing to add Johnson will have to bet on him being a factor later in the season, because the short-term value hasn't been there. That can also be said for Cam Whitmore (four percent), whose opportunities have been more consistent with Coulibaly unavailable.

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Draymond Green questions Warriors' commitment to winning as a team

Tuesday night, Oklahoma City reminded Golden State how far it is from the top teams in the West, with the Thunder cruising to a 126-102 win. Golden State is now 6-6 on the season with a bottom-10 offense in the league despite having Stephen Curry on the roster, and it looks more like a play-in team than a threat.

After the game, Draymond Green questioned the Warriors' commitment to winning, in comments reported by Monte Poole of NBC Sports Bay Area.

"Everybody was committed to winning, and doing that any way possible," Draymond Green told reporters at Paycom Center. "And right now, it doesn't feel that way ...

"You've got to fight your way out of it," Green said. "Anytime you're in a little rut in this league, it'll never be easy, never be pretty getting out of it. You've got to claw your way out. And right now, that's not the identity of this team."

Jimmy Butler backed up Green, to a point.

"I think he's partly correct," Butler said of Green's comments. "We've just got to get back to doing whatever it takes to win. Everybody is going to have to sacrifice something. I can't tell you what that sacrifice might be for every individual. It may be different for every individual every single night.

"But we're got to get back to winning is the main thing, the only thing. It's going to be up to the collective, as a group, to figure out what is needed to win."

Green would not discuss which players were not committed to sacrificing and winning for the team. This is a team where Jonathan Kuminga went through a rough restricted free agency and has been mentioned in trade rumors. Additionally, Brandin Podziemski, Buddy Hield, and Moses Moody are all extension-eligible after this season and are playing for their next contract.

Golden State started this season winning four of five, and it looked like the "Butler Bump" that had this team 23-8 at the end of last regular season was real. However, the Warriors are 2-5 since then. With an older core of Stephen Curry, Butler and Green, this is a Warriors team better built for the postseason than the grind of the regular season — but the Warriors have to get to the playoffs before they can be a threat. Right now, that doesn't feel like a sure thing.

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Warriors unveil new-look starting lineup without Jonathan Kuminga vs. Spurs

Warriors unveil new-look starting lineup without Jonathan Kuminga vs. Spurs originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Warriors coach Steve Kerr is a man of his word.

During his pregame presser before Golden State’s matchup with the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday at Frost Bank Center, Kerr told reporters it was time for changes to the Warriors’ rotation. Forty-five minutes later, Golden State unveiled its first starting lineup without forward Jonathan Kuminga since the 2025-26 NBA season began.

Kuminga is out and Moses Moody is back in, making his third start of the season after a strong showing over Golden State’s last few games. Warriors rookie Will Richard will make the second start of his young NBA career after earning the role for the first time in Golden State’s short-handed loss to the Sacramento Kings on Nov. 5.

Kerr was asked pregame if the Warriors needed to make “drastic rotational changes” given the team’s recent struggles, and the coach answered simply.

“Yes. It is,” Kerr said.

In the seven games since Golden State’s 4-1 start, the team is 2-5 and searching for answers. Veterans Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler criticized the team’s fight and commitment to winning on Tuesday night after an ugly loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Lineup changes are just a part of the season’s process, Kerr said, though Kuminga’s removal from the starting five is a stark contrast to the coach declaring the 23-year-old was entrenched as a full-time starter on Oct. 28.

“What I was saying earlier about lineup combinations, I think it’s very clear that we’ve been a little clunky recently, and I obviously watch everything and look at all the lineup data, and we have got to make some changes,” Kerr said Wednesday. “… There’s times in the season where it’s obvious you’ve got to make some changes, and it’s never any one individual’s fault. It’s all about the team, and how can we get the best out of everyone individually so that the collective is stronger.”

Kuminga started the season incredibly strong after some offseason contract drama that ended with him signing a new two-year deal worth a reported $48.5 million. The young forward now leads the team with 34 turnovers and is averaging 11.4 points over the Warriors’ last five games, down from 16.2 points per game during Golden State’s strong 4-1 stretch to start the campaign.

But the Warriors’ recent woes aren’t limited to just Kuminga, as Kerr said. The coach will continue toying with his rotations until he finds a method that helps the Warriors click — and the team certainly hopes that happens Wednesday in San Antonio.

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Michael Ray Richardson, four-time All-Star banned from NBA for violating drug policy in the 1980s, dies

Michael Ray Richardson, a versatile guard who was banned from the NBA for violating its drug policy in the 1980s, died Tuesday. He was 70.

Richardson’s attorney and close friend, John Zelbst, confirmed his death to The Associated Press. Richardson, who had prostate cancer, died at his Lawton, Oklahoma, home, with his wife, Kimberly, present. News outlet Andscape first reported the death of Richardson, whose first name was alternately spelled Micheal over the years.

Richardson was a three-time All-Big Sky Conference player at Montana before being selected No. 4 in the 1978 NBA draft, two slots ahead of Larry Bird. He played for the New York Knicks, Golden State Warriors and New Jersey Nets. In eight years, he was a four-time All-Star who led the league in steals three times.

He was banned in 1986 after violating the drug policy for cocaine use. He played in the Continental Basketball Association and then finished his career in Europe. He later won five championships as a coach in the Continental Basketball Association and NBL Canada.

“It was a life of redemption and winning,” Zelbst said. “Redemption and winning. It’s incredible.”

In 1979-80, Richardson averaged 15.3 points per game for the Knicks and led the league in assists (10.1 per game) and steals (3.2).

“He was just an incredible player, and no one had seen anybody like him at that time,” Zelbst said. “He was Magic (Johnson) before Magic.”

In 1984, he led the Nets to a stunning playoff upset of the defending champion Philadelphia 76ers and stars Moses Malone and Julius Erving.

In his best NBA season, 1984-85 with New Jersey, Richardson was named the NBA’s comeback player of the year after averaging 20.1 points and 8.2 assists and a league-best 3.0 steals per contest.

He played one more NBA season before his ban.

“He got kicked out of the league, got sober and never went back to it,” Zelbst said.

Richardson coached the Oklahoma/Lawton-Fort Sill Cavalry to three championships - in the CBA in 2008 and 2009 and in the Premier Basketball League in 2010. He also led the London Lightning to two NBL Canada championships. He returned to Lawton and spent much of the time in his later years guiding young Black men in the area.

Zelbst, who owned the Cavalry and Lightning, said Richardson was one of the best people he knew.

“Anybody that ever met him would just be fascinated by him,” Zelbst said. “He was such a bright light and I’m going to dearly miss him. He turned out to be my best pal, and it’s just heartbreaking.”

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NBA Revenue Projected to Hit $14.3B During 2025-26 Season

The NBA season is off to a hot start with close games and soaring viewership under its new media deal with Amazon, ESPN/ABC and NBC. The league’s accountants are also expecting a big year with gross projected revenue of $14.3 billion, up 12% from last season’s $12.75 billion, according to someone familiar with the forecast.

This tally includes league and team revenue outside of the money clubs make from non-NBA events, such as concerts, at arenas they operate or own. The figures were shared with league owners in September. The NBA declined to comment on the financial projections.

The growth is fueled by the league’s new 11-year, $76 billion media deal, which bumps each team’s TV revenue from $103 million to $143 million this season. The payouts rise roughly 7% per year on average, putting each team on track for $281 million for the 2034-35 season, based on a 30-team league. Forty years ago, each NBA team received roughly $1.5 million from national TV.

The 30 NBA teams generated $12.25 billion, or $408 million per club, in revenue during the 2024-25 season, including non-NBA events and excluding certain money that stays at the league level for investment and operations. The revenues ranged from $833 million for the Golden State Warriors to $301 million for the Memphis Grizzlies. The tally is net of revenue-sharing that transferred roughly $400 million to low-revenue teams last year, funded by high-revenue teams and 50% of luxury tax proceeds.

By comparison, NFL teams made $22.2 billon, MLB clubs made $12.75 billion, NHL franchises made $7.7 billion and MLS sides made $2.2 billion.

Basketball-related income, which is used to set the salary cap, was $10.25 billion last season, dinged by a choppy local media environment and multiple small-market teams reaching the conference finals, which impacted postseason gate receipts. It meant that more than $480 million went back to teams from the escrow fund set to ensure a 51-49 revenue split between players and owners.

The average NBA franchise is worth $5.51 billion, per Sportico’s NBA team valuations. That figure is up 20% versus last year and 113% from 2022, when the average was $2.58 billion.

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